Cap and face hood

ABSTRACT

A knitted cap comprises a top cap portion and an integrally formed face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening which is ribstitched and has an elastic band thereabout. The face hood portion also comprises a face opening which has an elastic band thereabout. The face hood portion has a band of ribstitching therearound above the face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the cap portion so that the band of ribstitching is within the lower part of the top cap portion. Elastic stitching through the band of ribstitching secures the face hood portion within the top cap portion.

United States Patent 1 Zientara CAP AND FACE HOOD [75] Inventor: Donald Zientara, Greendale, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Zwicker Knitting Mills, Appleton,

Wis.

[22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 226,152

l 1/1940 Australia. 2/202 July 24, 1973 330,838 6/1930 Great Britain 2/201 Primary Examiner-Jordan Franklin Assistant Examiner-Peter Nerbnn Attorney-James E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A knitted cap comprises a top cap portion and an integrally formed face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening which is ribstitched and has an elastic band thereabout. The face hood portion also comprises a face opening which has an elastic band thereabout. The face hood portion has a band of ribstitching therearound above the face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the cap portion so that the band of ribstitching is within the lower part of the top cap portion. Elastic stitching through the band of ribstitching secures the face hood portion within the top cap portion.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUJULZMQIS 3,747, 24

sum or 2 CAP AND FACE noon BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION portion of the wearer's head and face. U. S. Pat. No.

2,998,61 l issued Sept. 5, 1961 to W. E. Schuessler for Cuffed Cap and Face Hood and Method of Forming discloses one such type of cap which employs a foldable external cuff. One of the difficulties encountered in the design and manufacture of caps of this general type is to provide a cap wherein the face hood portion does not tend to creep outwardly from the top cap portion when telescoped therein when in use and to do so without the necessity of providing a bulky external cuff. Another problem is to provide such a cap which fits snugly about the head of the wearer whether or not the face hood portion is withdrawn and in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a one-piece cap, preferably formed of a one piece knitted tubular body, which comprises a top cap portion and an integrally formed face hood portion which can be telescoped therewithin. The face hood portion comprises a lower end opening and a face opening thereabove. The face hood portion has a band of ribstitching therearound, i.e., stitches more tightly knitted than those in the major portion of the cap body, which band is located above the face opening. The face hood portion is folded inwardly of the top cap portion so that the band of ribstitching is disposed within the top cap portion. Elastic stitching in the form of elastic thread is employed through theband of ribstitching to secure the face hood portion within the top cap portion. The ribstitching and elastic stitching combine to make the lower end of the top cap portion (and the upper end of the face hood portion) more snugly fitting on the wearer's head. Furthermore, the more tightly knit ribstitching provides a denser surface (and one on the inside of the cap) for engagement with the elastic thread and reduces the likelihood of the stitches tearing out. Also, the arrangement provides a small, aesthetically pleasing rim or ridge near the lower edge of the top cap portion. In further accordance with the invention, the tubular body of which the cap is made is provided with tightly-knit ribstitching at the upper and lower ends thereof; that at the upper end providing a more neatly finished, less bulky finished cap, and that at the lower end providing a better fit about the wearers face. The lower end of the tubular body and face hood portion and the face opening are further gathered by means of elastic bands.

DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cap in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the face hood portion withdrawn from within the cap;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the tubular sleeve of which the cap is made with both upper and lower ends open;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the ribstitch band of the face hood portion folded upwardly within the top cap portion andsecured therein by elastic stitching;'and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a cap 10 in accordance with the present invention with only the exterior of the top cap portion 12 visible. FIG. 2 shows cap 10 with the face hood portion 14 withdrawn from inside top cap portion 12. Cap 10 is usable in either configuration by a wearer. When used in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, face hood portion 14 fits over the wearers face, with lower edge 16 extending around the neck of the wearer. If preferred, the face opening 18 may be enlarged to expose the eyes, nose and mouth of the wearer. FIG. 5 shows how face hood portion 14 telescopes within top cap portion 12.

Cap 10 may be fabricated of one or more separate sewn-together pieces but preferably is fabricated from a one-piece tubular knitted body or sleeve 20, shown in FIG. 3, on atubular knitting machine of known type. However, body 20 could be formed by weaving, crocheting or in some other manner. Body 20 is provided during manufacture with a band of rib stitching 22 at its upper end, a band of rib stitching 24 near its midportion and above face opening 18, and a band of rib stitching 26 at its lower end. The three bands of rib stitching 22, 24 and 26 extend entirely around body 20. The bands of rib stitching are understood to comprise any type of stitching, knitted, woven or otherwise formed, which are more tightly formed than other stitching which forms the other main portion of body 20.

The edge of face opening 18 and the lower edge of the lowest band of rib stitching 26 are provided or gathered, at an appropriate stage in the manufacture of cap 10, with elastic bindings 28 and 30, respectively, so as to make these openings expandable, yet tending to draw closed. Furthermore, the upper edge of the uppermost band of rib stitching 22 is drawn together and sewn at an appropriate stage of manufacture to enclose and finish the upper end of top cap portion 12. If preferred, a tassle 32 may be provided, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, at an appropriate stage of manufacture.

As FIG. 4 shows, during manufacture, the upper end of face hood portion 14 is holdedinwardly of the lower end of top cap portion 12 so that the band of rib stitching 24 is disposed a short distance within top cap portion 12. Face hood portion 14 and top'cap portion 12 are then stitched together along a horizontal stitch line 34 by means of elastic stitching which passes through 'rib stitch band 24 and the material on top cap portion 12. The elastic stitching along line 34 preferably takes the form of elastic thread 36 i.e., thread comprising elastic material, such as rubber, surrounded by fabric, with the locking portion of the stitching lying against rib stitch band 24. However, other forms or types of elastic thread, or thread stitched in an elastic fashion could be employed.

As FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 show, such stitching provides a small roll or bead of material 38 about the lower'edge of top cap portion 12 which is visible whether or not face hood portion 14 is telescoped within top cap portion 12 and provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to cap 10.

The elastic stitching along line 34 and rib stitch band 24 cooperate in tending to draw the lower portion of top cap portion 12, and the upper portion of face hood portion 14, inwardly and thus provide a cap which fits snugly on the head of the wearer. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates any tendency for face hood portion 14 from creeping out of top cap portion 12 when telescoped therein, whether or not cap 10 is on the wearers head.

From the foregoing it appears that a cap in accordance with the invention comprises a top cap portion, and a face hood portion telescopable within the top cap portion and having an open lower end and at least one opening thereabove. The face hood portion has a band of rib stitching formed therein above said one opening. A downwardly extending first fold line means forms an external roll which is located at the lower end of said top cap portion and an upwardly extending second fold line means is located at the top end of said face hood portion and above said first fold line means. The first and second fold line means are secured together as a one piece construction forming said external roll with said band of rib stitching being located a short distance within said top cap portion. Elastic stitching extends through the band of rib stitching and through said top cap portion so as to extend only through the first fold line means and serves to secure the face hood portion within the top cap portion and to maintain the external roll in position when the face hood portion is telescoped within the top cap portion or when the face hood portion is in position on the face of the wearer.

RESUME A cap 10 comprising a top cap portion 12 and a face hood portion 14 which telescopes the top cap portion is fabricated of a tubular knitted sleeve which has rib stitch bands 22, 24 and 26 at its upper end, mid portion and lower end. The upper end of face hood portion 14 is folded inwardly of the lower end of top cap portion 12 so that intermediate rib stitch band 24 is inside the lower end of top cap portion 12. Elastic stitching passing through rib stitch band 24 and the lower end of top cap portion 12 secures portions 14 and 12 together. This provides a snug-fitting cap and face hood, keeps the face hood in place when telescoped, and provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance to cap 10.

I claim:

1. A cap comprising:

a top cap portion,

a face hood portion telescopable within said top cap portion and having an open lower end and at least one opening thereabove,

said face hood portion having a band of rib stitching formed therein above said one opening,

a downwardly extending first fold line means forming an external roll located at the lower end of said top cap portion, an upwardly extending second fold line means at the top end of said face hood portion and above said first fold line means, said first and second fold line means being secured together as a one-piece construction forming said external roll, said band of rib stitching being located a short distance within said top cap portion, and elastic stitching extending through said band of rib stitching and through said top cap portion so as to extend only through said first fold line means for securing said face hood portion within said top cap portion and for maintaining said external roll in position when the face hood portion is telescoped within said top cap portion or when the face hood portion is in position on the face of the wearer. '4"

2. A cap according to claim 1 comprising a tubular body wherein said top cap portion and said face hood portion are formed as a single piece unitary construction. 

1. A cap comprising: a top cap portion, a face hood portion telescopable within said top cap portion and having an open lower end and at least one opening thereabove, said face hood portion having a band of rib stitching formed therein above said one opening, a downwardly extending first fold line means forming an external roll located at the lower end of said top cap portion, an upwardly extending second fold line means at the top end of said face hood portion and above said first fold line means, said first and second fold line means being secured together as a one-piece construction forming said external roll, said band of rib stitching being located a short distance within said top cap portion, and elastic stitching extending through said band of rib stitching and through said top cap portion so as to extend only through said first fold line means for securing said face hood portion within said top cap portion and for maintaining said external roll in position when the face hood portion is telescoped within said top cap portion or when the face hood portion is in position on the face of the wearer.
 2. A cap according to claim 1 comprising a tubular body wherein said top cap portion and said face hood portion are formed as a single piece unitary construction. 